LiveWire’s smallest electric motorcycle is about to take on a new role, and it could prove to be one of the most important ones yet. The LiveWire S4 Honcho Street has now met the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) criteria for use in rider training programs, opening the door for new riders to learn the ropes – and potentially earn their motorcycle endorsement – without first learning how to operate a clutch and gearbox on a gas-powered motorcycle.
The move could be particularly significant for the growing number of riders arriving at motorcycling through e-bikes and other electric two-wheelers.
LiveWire designed the S4 Honcho as its smallest and most approachable electric motorcycle yet, and those same qualities happen to make the mini-moto particularly well-suited to rider training. As essentially a 125cc-equivalent, it fits into the smallest category of conventional motorcycling.
The bike weighs just 266 lb (121 kg) and has a seat height under 30 inches, making it considerably less intimidating than many full-sized motorcycles. And because it uses an electric drivetrain, there’s no clutch lever or gearbox to master. Twist the throttle and go.
That means aesthetically, the bike looks like a motorcycle. Functionally, though, it’s nearly as simple to operate as a scooter or Class 2 electric bicycle.
The S4 Honcho is an urban-focused model that has a top-rated speed of 59 mph (95 km/h) but also includes reduced-speed riding profiles that LiveWire says are equivalent to first- and second-gear training environments, limiting the bike to 18 mph (29 km/h) or 28 mph (45 km/h), respectively.
That’s great for the parking-lot-style training used in MSF classes that teach new riders the skills they need to safely operate a motorcycle.
The bike’s range is rated at 53 miles (85 km) using the WMTC standard or up to 73 miles (117 km) at 20 mph (32 km/h). For parking lot training, that’s more than enough to get through an entire day, but the swappable battery system should also allow training schools to keep bikes running continuously instead of waiting around for them to recharge.
“The next generation of riders is coming up on e-bikes and electric vehicles, so their expectations for mobility are changing,” explained LiveWire Head of Commercial Jon Bekefy. “For many, an electric motorcycle is a more natural first step into motorcycling. The S4 Honcho removes traditional barriers to entry and paired with MSF’s world-class training programs, Honcho gives new riders a more approachable way to learn safely and build confidence. That matters for LiveWire, and it matters for the future of motorcycling.”
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation appears to see the potential as well.
Corey Eastman, the organization’s Director of Rider Education Expansion, said the Honcho will join the training demo fleet at the MSF RiderCoach Tour, giving coaches a chance to use the electric motorcycle during several MSF exercises and allowing training providers to evaluate it for their own programs.
It’s not yet clear which MSF programs and in which areas will adopt the Honcho as an option for new riders, though hopefully we’ll learn more as the bikes roll out this year. But for LiveWire, getting the Honcho into training programs could also introduce an entirely new group of riders to electric motorcycles before they ever throw a leg over a gas bike.
And frankly, that makes a lot of sense.
Author: Micah Toll
Source: Electrek
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
